Leading With Compassion: Chief Minister releases biography of nephrologist H. Sudarshan Ballal 

Book unveiling by  Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah, alongside Dr. H. Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman – Manipal Hospitals. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday released “Leading with Compassion”, a biography of H. Sudarshan Ballal, nephrologist and chairman of Manipal Hospitals.

Authored by Stephen David, this book offers “an intimate yet universally relevant exploration of leadership through Dr. Ballal’s five-decade journey.” More than a traditional biography, this book serves as a vital resource for aspiring medical professionals and leaders globally.

The book that traces Dr. Ballal’s early life experiences, navigates through his pivotal professional milestones, highlighting the key decisions and challenges that shaped his career in medicine and leadership. It provides invaluable insights, equipping readers with the wisdom to navigate the intricate and ever-evolving complexities of the medical landscape, both within India and on the global stage.

The foreword for this work has been penned by M.N. Venkatachaliah, Padma Vibhushan awardee and former Chief Justice of India.

Dr. Ballal is known for being among the first in the U.S. to achieve triple board certification in Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Critical Care. His return to India in the early 1990s marked a pivotal moment for Indian healthcare, as he spearheaded the establishment of Manipal Hospitals’ pioneering nephrology programme. Under his leadership, Karnataka witnessed its first cadaver kidney transplant and the inception of its first DNB nephrology programme.

Dr. Ballal said leadership in medicine is not just about titles or technology. “It is about touching lives with empathy, staying true to your values, and leading by example. I have always believed that compassion is as essential as competence. If this book can inspire even a few young doctors to serve with heart and purpose, then it will have served its goal,” he said.

Apart from the Chief Minister and the former Chief Justice of India, the book release event was attended by N. Santosh Hegde, former Supreme Court Judge and former Lokayukta of Karnataka; Dinesh Gundu Rao, Karnataka’s Health Minister, Ranjan R. Pai, Chairman of Manipal Education and Medical Group; C. N. Manjunath, Padma Shri awardee, cardiologist, and Bengaluru Rural MP,  H. S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education; Dilip Jose, Managing Director and CEO of Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.;  K. Govindaraj, MLC and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Karnataka; and Sapthami Gowda, actress.

Published - May 28, 2025 10:18 pm IST